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论文类型：期刊论文

发表时间：2009-01-01

发表刊物：ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY

收录刊物：SCIE、PubMed、Scopus

卷号：27

期号：1

页面范围：103-110

ISSN号：1382-6689

关键字：Methylmercury; Pyrroloquinoline quinone; Apoptosis; Oxidative stress; Neuroprotection

摘要：Methylmercury (MeHg), as a well-known neurotoxicant, has been implicated to induce massive neurodegeneration. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a novel redox cofactor and also exists in various plants and animal tissues. in vivo as well as in vitro experimental studies have shown that PQQ functions as an essential nutrient or antioxidant. In this study, we demonstrated the protective effects of PQQ on MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. The results showed that after pretreatment of PC12 cells with PQQ prior to MeHg exposure, the MeHg-induced cytotoxicity was significantly attenuated, and then DNA fragmentation was correspondingly reduced. PQQ prevented the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, up-regulated the level of Bcl-2. and consequently inhibited the activation of caspase-3. Moreover, PQQ also decreased the production of ROS and maintained the GSH levels in PC12 cells exposed to MeHg. Thus, these data indicate that PQQ can protect neurons against MeHg-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress via ameliorating the mitochondrial dysfunction. Data from this study provide a new useful strategy for the treatment of neuronal toxicity induced by mercury toxins. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.